Location-independent working

What is location-independent working?

Location-independent working is the ability to connect to the programmes and applications that you need to access in order to do your work, from outside the campus. So long as you have a PC and an internet connection, you should be able to log on to the University network from anywhere. We have a range of applications to help with this. Should you have any difficulties, you can still get support  from our IT Technicians.

Thin client remote desktop connection

The Coventry University remote desktop connection (RDC) is the best method for you to access MS Office applications and your networked drives, including your ‘My Documents’ folder and other applications that would normally only be accessible when on campus, from anywhere. You will need to download the RDC client  in order to use this service. Your username and password will remain the same as for other University systems.

RDC user guide - step-by-step

Connect virtual private network client

Connect is a virtual private network (VPN) - an alternative to the remote desktop connection above which does much the same thing, but with a few other advanced features. Similarly to the thin client above, it enables you to connect to the University’s network as though you were on campus, and – as long as you have the applications installed on the device you’re using remotely – use nearly all of the applications that you are used to using on site.

For more information:
Download the FAQ
Download the user guide

Webmail

For access to your University emails from outside the campus via an internet browser, you can use Webmail to:

• read, write and send emails as usual
• access your Outlook calendar
• set up out-of-office autoreplies

As this is via a secure URL (ie one that starts with ‘https://’), you may need to use the webcache (see below) in order to access the service from outside the campus.

Myfiles

This is a web-based file access service that you can use to remotely view the networked drives that you would normally have access to from your work PC, such as:

• personal files usually stored on the H drive
• staff files (if applicable) stored on the L drive
• student/academic staff files on the W drive

You can use Myfiles to download, upload, and save files that you’re working on. Access is via a secure URL using your University account login details. Should you experience issues with the page, you may need to use the webcache (see below). Issues with login can also sometimes be resolved by typing ‘coventry\’ in front of your username.

Solar

Solar is a web-based application where students can check and amend course details and pay fees. As this is based on a secure URL, you may need to make use of the webcache (see below).

Webcache

Webcache is a function of web browsers that stores commonly-accessed pages to reduce loading and access times. The settings can also be adjusted in order to access pages from outside the University campus that you’d normally have to be inside the campus to use. The guide below explains how to configure the Webcache to enable location-independent working.

Webcache user guide